Largest-Ever Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) Project in the UK Secures Planning Consent
The Earba Storage Project is a proposed pumped storage hydro (PSH) scheme with an installed capacity of 1,800 MW and a storage capacity of 40,000 MWh, making it the largest project of its kind in the UK.
Commenting on the project, Carl Crompton Managing Director of Gilkes Energy said:
“We are thrilled to share that our flagship pumped storage hydro project, Earba, has received planning consent from the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government.
The Earba PSH project is the largest pumped storage hydro project ever approved in the UK. With an installed capacity of 1.8 GW and 40 GWh of stored energy, it provides 22 hours of storage at full power.
As the UK energy system shifts from being dominated by dispatchable thermal generation to one driven by intermittent renewables, the need for energy storage is increasing significantly. Storage systems enable excess renewable energy, primarily from wind, to be stored and used later during periods of low renewable generation.
Energy storage plays a key role in enabling the integration of more renewables into the UK energy system, accelerating progress toward Net Zero while enhancing energy security. In particular, Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) offers significant system and consumer benefits by minimizing wind curtailment costs, which are largely passed on to consumers, and reducing reliance on expensive gas generation. The Earba project, therefore, makes a substantial contribution to addressing the three pillars of the ‘energy trilemma’: it supports decarbonisation, strengthens energy security, and lowers costs for consumers.
We are also working closely with the UK Government and Ofgem to implement the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) ‘Cap & Floor’ mechanism in 2025. This investment framework acknowledges the importance of pumped storage hydro while addressing the challenges of financing such capital-intensive, long-lead-time projects. The Cap & Floor mechanism has already proven effective in attracting private investment for interconnector projects, and we anticipate it will similarly enable the financing of multiple PSH projects starting in 2025.
Now the real work begins as we transform the consented project into a fully designed, tendered, and costed venture. Our next steps include securing the substantial capital needed to bring this exciting project to life and making it fully financeable.”
Please visit the dedicated project website www.earbastorage.co.uk for regular updates.
